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These Frequently Asked Questions and Common Issues are grouped by category to help make finding them easier. There are two major divisions, each with multiple categories.
TIPS: 1) You can press Ctrl+F to search for a word or phrase on this page. 2) Use the Back button at the top to navigate backwards.
1) Question Categories for: Using Time Logger on your PC/Network
How to Purchase and Register your copy of Time Logger
I lost my Registration Code. How do I go about getting it back?
Setup, Install, Configure Installation, Versions & Maintenance Releases Multi-User/Network Installation, Setup and Security
Daily Usage Managing Time Records/Expenses Descriptors (Person, Client Name, Project, Subproject, Activity, Other, Rate, Internal Rate, Tax Rate, Mileage Rate) Invoicing, Invoice Templates & Account Receivable (Payments)
Vista, Backups, Copying, Advanced & Contact Us Advanced Topics for "Power Users" Customer Support - Sending Files
2) Question Categories for: Using Time Logger on your Palm/HotSyncing
1) Using Time Logger on your PC/Network
I lost my Registration Code. How do I go about getting it back? If you purchased between October 12, 2006 and Today:
[By logging in, our system will notify us that you are a registered user and we will send your registration information as soon as we can.] If you purchased before October 12, 2006, please visit our Contact Us web page and click on the Technical Support email address below the Message box and use your own email system (Outlook, Thunderbird, Gmail, etc.) to send as much of the following information as you can about the person and company that originally purchased Responsive Time Logger. Please send the information you know for the original purchaser: Full Name NOTE: If you have a multi-user license, we will also include your Company Code and License Number.
Installation, Versions & Maintenance Releases
Multi-User/Network Installation, Setup and Security
Managing Time Records/Expenses
Descriptors and Linking (Person, Client Name, Project, Subproject, Activity, Other, Rate, Internal Rate, Tax Rate, Mileage Rate)
Invoicing, Invoice Templates and Accounts Receivable (Payments)
Backing Up, Restoring, Copying and Moving
Advanced Topics for "Power Users"
Customer Support - Sending Files
2) Using Time Logger on the Palm/HotSyncing
THE LIST OF CATEGORIES AND QUESTIONS ARE ABOVE.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE BELOW.
Installation, Versions & Maintenance Releases How do I install (or re-install) Time Logger to my PC?
NOTE: Most users can select the default options during Setup.
Is it safe to re-install Time Logger? Do I have to uninstall it first? Yes. Time Logger never deletes or overwrites any of your data or settings and it does not need to be uninstalled first.
NOTE: Time Logger will re-install itself (the next time you run setuptimelogger.exe) to the same folder by default. Thus, you will continue to use all of your original data and settings. If you accidentally change the folder when you re-install, then uninstall it and re-install it to the correct folder. If you purposefully change the folder when you re-install, you will need to manually copy your data and settings from the old location (folders) to the new location (folders) if you wish to continue to using your original data. These are the data and settings files you'll need to copy below:
For all versions: (You will need to decide if it is OK to overwrite a file or not.)
...\Timelog\*.ev4 Environment files ...\Timelog\*.mdb Time Record Database files ...\Timelog\*.ini Global and User Settings ...\Timelog\*.rtf Invoices ...\Timelog\*.sev Special Environment files ...\Timelog\support\*.mdb Databases of Clients, Invoices and Payments, Descriptors, Users
For version 4.04.03 and later, you may decide whether or not you also want to move the data in the folders on the window Global Options Window/Folders Tab.
How can I tell where Time Logger is installed and what time records database file and other files I'm using? Start Time Logger and select: Advanced/Diagnostics. The top set of lines show you where your files are located and what they are as illustrated here.
How can I tell what version of Time Logger I have? Start Time Logger and select: Help/About Time Logger
Are the maintenance releases free and do I need to get the latest one? Maintenance releases are free within the same major version, such as version 4. However, if you own version 3, you would need to purchase an upgrade to use a version 4 release.
We suggest that you use the latest version, but it is not required. If you encounter a defect or serious problem, please consult our Troubleshooting section here in Help. If you cannot find the issue, chances are good that upgrading to the latest version will fix your problem.
I want to move or copy Time Logger to a new computer -- what's the best way? See: Copying Time Logger to a New Machine
Can I legally install two copies of Time Logger for my own use on my Laptop and Desktop? Yes. See this FAQ on how to set up the second computer. See: Synchronizing Databases for managing your two time records databases.
Getting Started What are 3 very important things to know about using Time Logger? See: IMPORTANT: 3 Things You Really Should Know
For Time Logger on my PC, where can I get a good overview of how to use it? Check out one or more of these:
For Time Logger on my Palm OS handheld, where can I get a good overview of how to use it? The Time Logger Palm Interface is quick and easy to use and contains all of the features necessary to record your time and expenses and add new descriptors (clients, projects, subprojects, etc.) while you are away from your PC. Back at your PC, you HotSync to put your time records onto your PC and use the PC version to manage your invoicing, reporting and other more robust operations.
Check out one or more of these:
What data should I enter and what settings should I adjust to get started?
Configuration and Setup How can I skip the Login Window that asks for my name each time I start Time Logger? See: The Login Window - Automatically Log In When You Start Time Logger
I just want to enter the amount of time, not all those dates and times. How do I set up Duration Only mode? See: Global Options Window/General Tab - Duration Only Mode
I bill in increments of 15 minutes. How do I set the Duration Increment? See: Global Options Window/General Tab - Duration Increment
The minimum amount for my time records is 30 minutes. How do I set the Minimum Duration? See: Global Options Window/General Tab - Minimum Duration
How do I allow Overlapping Time Records? See: Global Options Window/Safety Tab - Allow Overlapping Time Records
How do I save all of my settings (Environment) and layout so I can return to my default view? See: Saving your Settings In Environments
Help! I can't find my time records! Where is my time records database file?
I don't like the terms Project, Subproject, Other, etc. How do I change the terms and labels? See: Global Options Window/Terminology Tab
How do I make the Description required or optional or receive a warning if it is empty? See: Global Options Window/Safety Tab
How do I change my own password? See: Using Passwords
Multi-User/Network Installation and Setup How do I install Time Logger on my network? See our website: Network Installation Instructions
For successfully setting up and managing Time Logger on a multi-user network, we suggest that view the bullet points below and read the Help sections they reference. This knowledge will enable you to successfully configure Time Logger to meet your company's needs.
How do I install Time Logger for a new user on our Network? Check back at our website (see our website: Network Installation Instructions) and remember if you set up Time Logger on your network with Option #1 (store the data on the server and run the application from the server) or Option #2 (store the data on the server and install and run the application locally on each client workstation).
NOTE 1: After you complete the steps below, you may need to log into Time Logger with the Administrator password and assign a password to this user. See: Using Passwords.
NOTE 2: If you are licensed for 10 users (for example), when the 11th user opens the company's time records database file, the Site License Discrepancy window will appear. This is where you can enter your new Company Code and License Number if you just increased your number of user licenses. See: How to Register your copy of Time Logger for more details. Or, this may indicate that you need to purchase additional user licenses. See: How to Purchase.
For Option #1: Sitting at the user's computer with that user having Administrator rights, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder on the server where Time Logger is installed and run the program file setupuser.exe. (If you don't have that file in the folder where Time Logger is installed, download it here.) When you run setupuser.exe, follow the directions and enter the new user's name that they will log into Time Logger with (this will also be the Person name that is used to record time) and select the settings that indicate you are using Option #1. After the installation is complete, the user will have an icon on their desktop and/or a new entry in their Start/Programs menu. You may reduce the user's rights to lower than Administrator if you wish. Then test Time Logger to verify that the user has enough rights to add and delete time records. If you get errors, chances are that the user does not have enough rights to the folder on the server where Time Logger is installed and you should increase their rights.
For Option #2: Sitting at the user's computer with that user having Administrator rights, run setuptimelogger.exe (download here). Follow the default installation options, unless you need to change them and remember the folder on the local computer where Time Logger is installed. Then, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder on the server where Time Logger is installed and run the program file setupuser.exe. (If you don't have that file in the folder where Time Logger is installed, download it here.) When you run setupuser.exe, follow the directions and enter the new user's name that they will log into Time Logger with (this will also be the Person name that is used to record time) and select the settings that indicate you are using Option #2 (run Time Logger locally) and specify the folder where Time Logger is installed. After the installation is complete, the user will have an icon on their desktop and/or a new entry in their Start/Programs menu. You may reduce the user's rights to lower than Administrator if you wish. Then test Time Logger to verify that the user has enough rights to add and delete time records. If you get errors, chances are that the user does not have enough rights to the folder on the server where Time Logger is installed and you should increase their rights.
NOTE: If you get the screen indicating that you need more user licenses, you can either remove some of your users or purchase a larger set of user licenses. Please click below. (Note that you will receive credit for the cost of the user licenses that you already own.)
How do I add, delete and change usernames on my multi-user installation of Time Logger?
Below are details on how to manage users (add, delete and change user names) in Time Logger.
Add a New Username
NOTE: If you get the screen indicating that you need more user licenses, you can either remove some of your users or purchase a larger set of user licenses. Please click: Add More User Licenses. (Note that you will receive credit for the cost of the user licenses that you already own.)
Delete a Username
The username for the person you are deleting is in up to 5 places:
1. The list of users on the Login Window: The only place that you have to delete the username to effectively reduce the number of registered Time Logger users is on the list of users for the Login Window which is here: Global Options Window/Other Tab. Note that this does not delete the username any other place.
2. The Person Descriptor List: Next, consider whether or not you want to be able to easily select the old username on the Person Descriptor list, particularly when using the Filter. If you delete the username from the Person Descriptor list, you cannot select it from the list, but note that you can type a username that is not in the list into the "Compare To" field for the Filter Window. Having old deleted user in the Person Descriptor list can be handy for filtering, but might confuse others. Removing the username from the Person Descriptor list is optional.
IMPORTANT: Note that deleted Descriptors might be re-added, depending upon how you have Time Logger set up. See this FAQ entry on this topic.
3. In the Person Descriptor on existing Time Records: Most companies will want to leave the old username on the existing time records and retain the old time records that were created by that user. Please note that deleting the username anywhere else in time logger has no effect on the existing time records created by that username (and having Person = the deleted username).
4. The Assign User Passwords window (if your users have passwords): To reduce confusion, it is recommended but not required that you delete the username here: Password Security/For Current Database/Assign User Passwords
5. One or more shortcuts on their workstation: If your company re-uses or shares workstations and a Time Logger user is deleted, be sure to also delete any of their shortcuts on the Start Programs menu and their Desktop. If you perform step #1 above, but later someone uses a shortcut to start Time Logger with the deleted username in it, Time Logger will automatically add a new user to your network installation, which could be an issue, particularly if puts you above the number of user licenses you own.
Change a username
The username for the person you are changing is in up to five places:
1. The list of users on the Login Window: Go here: Global Options Window/Other Tab and delete the old spelling of the username and add the correct new one. Note that this does not change the username any other place.
2. The Person Descriptor List: Next, go to: Records/Edit Record Descriptors and delete the old Person Descriptor for that user and add the new one.
IMPORTANT: Note that the old version of that Person Descriptor might be re-added, depending upon how you have Time Logger set up. See this FAQ entry on this topic, unless you perform the steps in #3 below.
3. In the Person Descriptor on existing Time Records: Next, start Time Logger, log in using an Administrator password (if you use one) and open your company's time records database and create a Filter with one row for the old spelling of the username:
Person = ????? end
Then, select Edit/Modify All Filtered Records and set the "Field to Change" to Person and the "New Text" to the new spelling of the username and click OK.
At this point, all of the time records in your database should have the new username.
4. The Assign User Passwords window (if your users have passwords): Go here: Password Security/For Current Database/Assign User Passwords and delete the old username for that user and add the new one with a new password.
5. One or more shortcuts on their workstation: Logged in as an Administrator at their workstation, find their shortcuts on the Start Programs menu and their Desktop. Perform these steps for each.
I've got one or more users who work remotely. How do I manage their time records? See: Maintaining Multiple Copies of a Database
How do I prevent users from opening the wrong time records database file? See: Global Options Window/Safety Tab "Restrict all users to one Time Records database file shown below:"
WARNING: If you use File/New to open a new database and give it a filename of an existing database, the system will warn you that you are about to replace the file and ask you to confirm with Yes or No. If you select Yes, you will permanently delete the entire existing database and all of it's data will be lost. To effectively disable the File/New option for users, use the "Restrict All Users to one Time Records database file shown below" option on the Global Options Window/Safety Tab.
Can I password protect the descriptors and/or Global Options so that only certain people can modify them? See: Using |